Photonic vector signal generation using heterodyne beating

An exemplary technique of optical signal transmission in which modulated optical signals are generated using photonic heterodyne beating and operating a digital to analog converter at baseband includes receiving information bits, modulating the information bits to generate a precoded vector signal at baseband, generating, using photonic heterodyne beating, from the precoded vector signal at baseband, a precoded vector signal at an upconverted frequency, and transmitting the precoded vector signal at the upconverted frequency on the optical communication network.